A Nurturing Small Group

My husband Larry and I have been members of First Presbyterian for over 20 years. I want to share with other women of our church the value of consistent, long term involvement in a loving small group. I am a part of the Spiritual Formation committee of our church, which oversees the Small Group ministry of First Presbyterian.

My first introduction to Christian small groups happened while I was a student at MSU in the early 1970's. I was raised Lutheran and was actively involved in church all my life. But it wasn't until I was invited to join a Bible study in my dorm as a sophomore that I was challenged to have a more deeply committed and personal daily walk with the Lord. This was through Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship, a campus ministry. The students in this group were dynamic and very mature. In fact, I had never met young people my age who were this mature and committed to their faith. I was challenged to read my Bible daily, keep a prayer journal, and meet weekly for a Bible study with other girls in my dorm. I also participated for two summers in leadership training, and began meeting one on one with another, more mature female student. As a result of my own growth in faith, I came to Flint upon graduation from college with a degree in Social Work and worked for seven years with Youth for Christ. I ministered to young teenage girls referred by the Genesee County Court and then began a foster care ministry through this same organization.

I met my future husband when he became a volunteer and we participated in a small group Bible study of local Youth for Christ volunteers and other young Christians. Our relationship grew and blossomed as a result of this small group experience. After we were married for a few years my husband was accepted into Medical School at MSU and we moved to Lansing from 1981-85 with our first daughter and increased our family to two daughters. We became active in an East Lansing church. Several of the members lived in our neighborhood and we created our own small group. This support was very important to us all. At least two couples became missionaries, and one couple remains in long term mission work with Native Americans.

We returned to Flint after medical school and joined First Presbyterian. We were invited to join a small group already in existence and have remained in this group ever since. This is the longest existing small group in our church. Some of the participants have moved, died, or eft the group but core members remained. The depth of the commitment of the covenant made amongst the group became apparent to Larry and I when my husband was taken for emergency by-pass surgery to Cleveland Clinic when he was 44. We knew his cholesterol was high but were unaware of the extent of coronary blockages until he began to have symptoms. His parents stayed with our four children (we had twins when we moved back to Flint from Lansing). We spent nine days in Cleveland and I felt so loved and supported when several members of our small group spent the day of Larry's heart surgery with me. I had family there as well, but was overwhelmed by our friends taking the time to drive all the way to Cleveland to support me. I was humbled and challenged to then demonstrate that same level of commitment to members of our group in a time of need and also to other Christians. We are called to lay down our lives for each other and what a wonderful example was set before us. A small group can have the capacity to provide that kind of support and fellowship.

At First Presbyterian, we currently have several small groups meeting on a regular basis. The Spiritual Formation Ministry has materials to help you get started if you wish to begin a group. This is not the only way to mature spiritually, but it is one way to give and receive in a close, supportive atmosphere. Please feel free to contact me for more information.

Corinne Kage